BUFORA Bulletin No. 001

This document is the first issue of the BUFORA Bulletin, dated September 1981, published by the British UFO Research Association. The bulletin serves as an organizational update, announcing a shift from the previous 'Journal' format to a 'Bulletin' format due to severe financial constraints and the high cost of printing the former publication. The leadership, including Treasurer J. L. Spencer and Chairman L. W. Bayer, emphasizes that this change is intended to maintain contact with members while reducing costs to prevent the collapse of the association. The issue includes a farewell message from the outgoing editor, Norman Oliver, who reflects on his tenure and the challenges of producing the journal. The bulletin also features a speech by the BUFORA President, Lord Kings-Norton, delivered at the BUFORA International Congress on May 24, 1981. In his address, Lord Kings-Norton discusses his skeptical but open-minded approach to the study of Unidentified Flying Objects, distinguishing between the existence of unidentified objects in the sky and the assumption of extraterrestrial origins. He advocates for rigorous scientific investigation and the elimination of natural explanations before considering more exotic hypotheses. Additionally, the bulletin contains an article by Charles Bowen titled 'Reflections of an Editor,' which discusses the current 'recession' in UFO reporting, comparing it to similar periods in the past, such as the early 1960s. Bowen provides historical context on UFO research, mentioning cases like the 1963 Whidby Island incident and the 1965 Valensole case, and encourages researchers to re-examine older cases during the current lull in new reports. The document also includes administrative information, book reviews, and advertisements for UFO-related materials.